The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-07
ThermOpyle and the AlamO--
the Question Settled.
DALLAS, June 6, 1887.

the authorship of "Thermopyl@ had
her messenger of defeat but the Ala
mo.had nonew | clearly showed that
Gen. Burleson did not use it on the
Sth of March, 1886, as claimed by the
Rev. r.. G. Burlcson; and that it was
not original with Representative VIM
field, who quoted it in 1852 in the de-
bate on the Babe of the Alamo bill,
because it had been carved on the
Alamo monument three or four years
earlier. now believe it was SO carved
Tor s years earlier.
l sent my communication to the
Hon. Guy M. Bryan, of Galveston,
(who had been given as authority for
the Sth Of March story,) and also to
the noble and venerable Capt. Reuben
M. Potter, Brooklyn, New Y 'rk, and
solicited an expression from each.
Major Bryan, whose warm attach
ment to Gen. Burleson is well known
and who pronounced the eulogy over
his remains by selection of both houses
ofthe legislature, says: 81 agree with
YOU that Gen. Burleson did not use
the language at Gonzales at the time
March S, 1861 attributed to him by the
old soldier. regret that | cannot be
precise as TO time and place. have
always believed that Gen. Thos. j.
Green revised or prepared his address
| recollect at the time hearing the in
cident spoken of and the Generals
laundering at the word Thermopyle,
which fastened the circumstance on
my mind" Major Bryan was a youth
of only sixteen when the occurrence
took place, as shown by Capt. Potter.
Here is what the venerable roct-
patriot says:
BROOKLYN, N. Y, May 81, 1887.
My DEAR SIR:
Your favor of the Goth inst. is re-
te.ved and, in answer to your inqui.
ries, have to say that did not origi-
nate that best of the inscriptions on
the Alamo ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
had her messenger of defeat--but the
Alamo had none." | furnished the
other three inscriptions. AS | under
stood in early days, when the case was
well remembered, those words were
taken by the artist from a
speech written by Gen. Thamas j.
Green for Gen. Burleson and deliver
ed by the latter Mt San Antonio in
1887. Gen. Green, have no doubt, is
entitled to the credit of originating
the sentiment. Gen. Burleson, though
q grand old soldier, knew more about
the wars of modern Texas than all
cient Greece, and he was said to have
mispronounced the name OF the heroic
locality. The artist doubtless took
the words from copy of that speech.
claim, however, the credit of orig
mating the general idea of the monu-
ment. / visited San Antonio in 1S4l,
and found there an artist, Mr.. Nangle,
engaged in making small momentos,
such rs vases and pines, from the
stones of the Alamo. l suggested to
him the plan of advertising his skill
by making a small monument, of a
size suitable for center table and Of
fering it as a present 10 the president
of Texas, to remain as a permanent
decoration of the executive mansion.
The form / suggested was that of a.
Roman altar, with emblems for five
sides of the frieze, namely, a head
pierced by two ialchions, ard skull
between two palm leaves, the former
representing self immolation, and the
latter victory in death. The inscrip-
lions suggested were three of those
eventually put on the monument. For
the other side proposed the names
Of Travis, Bowie, Crockett and Bon
ham
Tho, artist improved on my plan by
placing those names on the friezc and
inscribing on the fourth side the he
roic motto under discussion. He en-
larged my suggestion also by crown
ing the pedestal with something like
an obelsk, and making of the whole
monument of considerable size. l
left San Antonio befoar the artist
commenced his work and never saw
the monument till ten years later, in
New Orleans.
My health continues good, consider
ing that am in my eighty-sixth year.
Most truly yours,
REUBEN M. POTTER. 4
This version of the origin of the
eloquent sentence is, beyond any
reasonable doubt, true. Then who
was Gen. Thomas j. Green? A North |